Editorial reviews

Continuing her unimposing though somewhat frail and conventional retelling of the Greek myths, Doris Gates appends a thirteen-page version of Demeter and Persephone's oft-told tale to the far longer section, headed "Aphrodite," which includes a number of brief tales of love and lovers (Pymalion, Atalanta, Cupid and Psyche, Hero and Leander, Pyramis and Thisbe) as well as the goddess' own adventures. Like Garfield who retells some of the same stories in Golden Shadows (KR, 1973), Gates milks the incidents for drama and emotional dimension, though her faint, romantic approach (reinforced by Trina Schart Hyman's drawings of girlish breasts and flowing tresses) seems notably bloodless in contrast with Garfield's sometimes overblown earthiness. We find Edith Hamilton's unembellished summary stronger than either; nevertheless this will please teachers and librarians who, understandably, find Gates' three previous volumes just right for reading aloud. (Kirkus Reviews)